Professional Documents
Culture Documents
12 14
‘Blokey’ NT image Digesting croc
may be a myth secrets – from the
Understanding one sector of inside out
the NT population How crocodiles have
survived environmental
catastrophes
18 19 20
Karrabing: keeping Nomad finds a home Way forward in
country live in e-learning PNG’s maternal
Archiving three families’ Engaging students in self- mortality crisis
social, historical and directed learning Addressing the desperate
cultural knowledge situation of some new
mothers
4 News 30 Regional
Russian immigrant finds a new life
in Gove
8 First Person
Alison Elliott explores the importance
of quality early childhood education
in the academic and social
31 Limited Edition
development of youngsters Alan Griffiths’ etching Jooba
26 Alumni 38 Publishing
Distance educators REACT to need News from CDU Press
28 Q&A
Aaron Devine is Director of VET and Teaching Quality
2 CREDITS Origins
Editor Contributors
Robyn McDougall
Project manager
Lynda Baxter
keith christian Animal physiologist and ecologist,
Design Keith Christian has spent more than two decades
Sprout at Charles Darwin University (and its precursors)
Printer where he is currently Professor of Zoology. He also
Finsbury Green Printing has research interests in biological control and
evolution. For this issue, Professor Christian explores
the emerging research behind the science which
Corporate Communications is grateful to the has allowed crocodiles to survive major catastrophes
following people for their contributions and
over the millennia.
assistance in compiling this edition:
Wayne Barbour, Tim Berra, Wendy Brady, Anne
Chivas, Keith Christian, Aaron Devine, Peter
Doherty, Christine Edward, Alison Elliott, Peter
Eve, Mike and Cheryl Flynn, Kate Golebiowska, richie hodgson Now into his fourth edition of Origins
Sarah Hanks, Rob Harcourt, Greg Holland, Sue
as a contributor, CDU’s Media Officer Richie Hodgson
Kruske, Mark Meekan, Robyn McInerney, Olga
has written several articles for this issue based on
Postans, Elizabeth Povinelli, Shane Thamm, Bill
Wade, Suzanne Wilson. interviews with CDU researchers, lecturers and alumni.
His story on the desperate situation of maternal
mortality in Papua New Guinea offers a disturbing
Opinions and views expressed in this edition insight into a crisis which continues to cripple the
do not necessarily reflect those of Charles
country’s health system.
Darwin University. Reproduction of any
material appearing in this edition requires
written permission from Robyn McDougall,
E: robyn.mcdougall@cdu.edu.au
row booker Row Booker recently joined CDU’s
Published May 2009 media team after immigrating to Australia from
the United Kingdom, where she worked as a radio
reporter and news producer for the British Forces
This edition is also available at
www.cdu.edu.au/corporatecommunications/ Broadcasting Service. She currently is CDU’s Marketing
publications.html Communications Officer. Row writes several articles
in this edition of Origins on the upcoming Charles
CRICOS Provider 00300K Darwin Symposium, “Charles Darwin: Shaping our
Science, Society and Future”. She also writes about
the generosity of an NT family in donating a
Design and Printing notes substantial sum of money to support environmental
Text face Caecilia research students.
Display face Meta Black Italic
www.sprout.com.au
On the move
As the Northern Territory’s premier tertiary education
provider, Charles Darwin University performs a
crucial role in the wider community. The Territory’s
much-vaunted vitality is, in part, the result of the
dynamism of its own university.
CDU has intense working on the theme, “On the move”, and provide a taste of the
relationships with a great variety contributions CDU is making in higher education and VET
of individuals and organisations teaching, to the community through our partnerships, and to
throughout the NT and beyond. We the lives of many individuals. The theme helps to illuminate
are indeed fortunate to work within the dynamism that is required of CDU as we meet our
one of the world’s most culturally and responsibilities to the NT community, face the geographical
biologically diverse regions. challenges of our location, and work with our diverse but
small population base.
At the same time, the Territory’s
unique challenges are also In this issue you will read about research that will assist
well-documented, and part of policy-makers to understand the movements of overseas
the mission of the university is to immigrants who come to the Northern Territory. This group
develop knowledge that will solve represents a significant sector of the NT population and little
complex problems existing in our work has been undertaken in the past to understand the
region. In doing so, CDU is indeed demographic and economic impacts of these people.
a valuable asset in the social,
You will discover how CDU is helping to address a maternal
cultural, intellectual and economic
mortality crisis in Papua New Guinea, which is ranked
development of Northern Australia.
among the worst in the world in regard to women dying
The Territory has every right to be in childbirth.
proud of our achievements, not
And you will learn about how a university lecturer from the
only in helping to build a strong
former Soviet Union is working to rebuild her life in Gove
community in the north, but also
with the help of English classes offered through CDU.
in providing higher education and
vocational education and training This edition also showcases the Charles Darwin Symposium
for local, national and international which will celebrate the 200th anniversary of Charles
students. We are young and, for an Darwin’s birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication
institution that straddles the entire of “On the Origin of Species”.
Territory, we are nimble. We can
The Symposium’s keynote speaker, Professor Tim Berra,
respond quickly to new demands
along with other prominent presenters, opens up the
and opportunities.
discussion in this Origins ahead of the September event.
As an institution, we must be agile
I hope you enjoy these and other articles and regular
and our agility is reflected in the
columns in this edition, and that you gain a deeper sense
theme of this edition of Origins.
of the impacts of our university.
The articles that follow are based
left
Award winners, Professor Stephen Garnett and Dr Gabriel Crowley.
CDU’s NT Manager of the Primary Industries and Community He said he had strong
Services Industry Division, Dr Brian Heim was announced competition in the awards. “I have
the winner. to say the quality of the other
VET teachers nominated for the
It was the first time the Territory has participated in the
award was amazing. I actually
awards, with Dr Heim scooping not only the Agricultural
had picked out in my own head
Teacher of the Year Award, but also the ultimate accolade
who I thought was most likely to
of ITSE Teacher of the Year 2008.
win and of course it wasn’t me,
Originally from Texas, USA, Dr Heim has worked at CDU’s but to be told I had won – it was
Katherine campus for the past six years. just an amazing surprise.”
“To win this award is a tremendous honour. It goes beyond The award comes with a $10,000
explanation to say what it actually means to me,” he said. cash component designed, in
part, to help fund a project to
above Dr Heim said he believed that an agricultural course he had
benefit industry, students and
Dr Brian Heim plans developed in direct response to industry demand secured the
to put his $10,000
the winning teacher.
prestigious award.
prize to good use.
Dr Heim plans to use the
“I think it’s the job of vocational education and training
money to develop his existing
(VET) teachers to respond rapidly to industry and to
animal studies program into
meet their needs wholly.”
an online course.
Origins NEWS 5
CDU’s Head of the School of Engineering and Charles Darwin University’s Palmerston-based
Information Technology, Professor Friso De Boer said Bakery Lecturer David Barker competed in the
the quality and structure of the Co-op degree would SIGEP Breadcup 2009, one of the world’s largest
provide benefits to the NT by supplying more job-ready professional trade fairs dedicated to bakery,
engineers to the workforce, while the scholarship confectionary and gelato products.
program would attract and retain the best and the
brightest in the Territory. He joined three other teammates in the seaside
town of Rimini, taking on European and Mexican
bakers in various competitions.
below
Award-winning Engineering students (from left): Luka Bisevac B.Eng/B.Applied Thousands of people and a throng of media followed
Science (winner 2008 VC’s prize); Lachlan Prescott B.Eng-Co-op (winner 2009 the team as they produced traditional and innovative
VC’s prize); Professor Friso De Boer, Head of CDU’s School of Engineering and IT;
Joanna Winslade B.Eng-Co-op (winner 2009 VC’s prize) and Ryan Prsecott (CDU
breads, a cake, art work using dough and a showcase
B.Eng – 3rd year). display all within strict time limits and with defined
ingredients.
Research Associate with CDU’s The maternal death and fertility “This study describes the context
Graduate School for Health Practice, rate in Timor-Leste continued to of unplanned and unwanted
Dr Suzanne Belton has completed be very high, but the proportion pregnancy and fertility management,
the first study on unwanted of maternal mortality due to as well as investigating and
pregnancy in East Timor. unsafe abortion was unknown. canvassing a way forward.”
Entitled “Maternal Mortality, Dr Belton said the law regulating Dr Belton said a number of key
Unplanned Pregnancy and Unsafe termination of pregnancy in findings in relation to induced
Abortion in Timor-Leste: A Situational Timor-Leste was highly restrictive abortion were uncovered.
Analysis”, the study was presented and women could not request elective
“Key findings included that induced
during East Timor’s Institute of abortion for any reason, including
abortion continued to be performed
Health Sciences’ first Congress on to preserve their health or save
in secret, 40 per cent of all emergency
Health Sciences in early December their lives.
obstetric care was managing and
2008 in Dili.
“A huge problem is that there has treating complications from early
Co-authored by Dr Belton, Andrea been no research conducted on pregnancy losses, and doctors and
Whittaker and Dr Lesley Barclay, the unsafe abortion since Timor-Leste’s midwives continued to be reluctant
study investigated and recommended independence from Indonesia in to speak with women about induced
strategies to reduce morbidity and 2002,” she said. abortion,” she said.
mortality associated with unwanted
pregnancy and unsafe abortion.
After two weeks on Groote Eylandt “The course equips participants with the skills to command,
covering navigation, boating with safety and efficiency, a commercial vessel of less than
procedures, maintenance and other eight metres and provides employment opportunities in
skills needed to be a coxswain, 11 the small vessel sector including tourism, commercial
Indigenous participants passed the workboats, fisheries and aquaculture,” he said.
testing eight metre coxswain course.
The course also achieved a national first with participant Ida
CDU Lecturer in Maritime Studies, Mamarika becoming the first Indigenous woman to qualify
Milton Miller said the program for the eight metre Inshore Coxswain Certificate.
delivered a wide range of training
Mr Miller said the course also aimed at meeting the need
including driver education, coxswain
below for coxswain training for students with limited literacy and
In training for training, survival at sea, and
numeracy skills.
an important job. occupational health and safety.
“These are the people who will help guard our coastlines
from illegal fishing and manage the environmental issues
that spring up in some of the Territory’s most beautiful, if
inaccessible, areas,” he said.
She said Kakadu visitors sought more which later became the Gagudju Lodge
Territory pioneer in-depth knowledge of Indigenous Cooinda, renowned for its Yellow
receives PhD at 84 culture, and wanted to know about Water boat cruises.
the use and significance of the site to
At age 84, Judy Opitz has Now that she has finished her PhD,
prehistoric peoples, not just about its
completed the highest academic Dr Opitz has set her mind on studying
present-day significance.
honour. After 18 consecutive philosophy.
At the same time as working on
years of university study, the She said education would always
her thesis, Dr Opitz wrote her
Territory pioneer has received a be important to her, and helping
autobiography entitled “An English
PhD from CDU. people access education was her
Rose in Kakadu”, which has been
current passion.
Dr Opitz took her first steps into accepted by a local publisher. The
higher education in 1990 with an Arts book recounts her childhood in
degree majoring in archaeology and England where she was raised by
anthropology, followed by Honours nannies and governesses, to her
which she completed in 1998. But her search for adventure and subsequent
appetite for learning was far from voyage to Australia as a “10-pound
satisfied, leading her to enrol in a PhD. POM” in 1959, and eventually to
meeting her future husband and
Her thesis compared the archaeological crocodile hunter hero, Tom Opitz, in
significance of two Australian Heritage the famous Darwin Hotel.
sites – Tasmania’s Port Arthur Penal
Colony and the Territory’s Kakadu Tom worked at the Nourlangie Safari
National Park – and examined the Camp as a guide, leading hunting
ways the sites’ archaeological histories parties for American tourists. In 1964
were presented for visitors. the couple built a store in Kakadu,
right
Dr Judy Opitz, 84, still hungry for learning.
8 FIRST PERSON Origins
Growing strong
The Northern Territory’s unique social and geographic
profile has resulted in a relatively small, but diverse
and dispersed range of programs for young children. In
Exact early childhood participation rates are difficult to The Territory is a leader
determine because attendance data are collected in different in preschool education.
ways and at different times, and there is no unique identifier
for each child who enrols. Counting is complicated because
many children participate in more than one early childhood
service. High family mobility also complicates counting.
best and worst services. The NT Government-funded
There are two main types of services providing education
preschools and the early learning centres attached to
and care to children from birth to five years of age in the NT:
Catholic and Independent schools are among the best
preschools and child care centres, sometimes known as early
nationally and internationally. Unfortunately, some of
learning centres.
Australia’s most problematic early childhood services
The Territory is a leader in preschool education. Most are also in the Territory, especially in remote locations.
preschools are co-located on primary school sites and have They are housed in dirty and neglected facilities, with
administrative and educational ties to the school. Preschools, limited staffing and resources. Some sit outside the
including mobile preschools, provide “sessional” education national child care accreditation scheme so there is
programs for four year olds for up to 12 hours a week. little quality control.
This will soon increase. In some cases, attendance is open
Extreme staff shortages across the sector nationally
to three year olds and, depending on family vulnerability,
are exacerbated in remote locations. Not surprisingly,
can be almost full-time. There is no limit to the number of
families and children don’t want to participate in poor-
preschool places the government funds but, understandably,
quality early childhood services, so some centres sit
provision of a preschool teacher is linked to minimum
virtually empty.
enrolments. This makes provision difficult in remote areas
with small, highly mobile populations. The NT Government strategy, Closing the Gap of
Indigenous Disadvantage: A Generational Plan of Action
In addition to on-site preschools, mobile preschools
(Aug 2007) addresses specific challenges that affect
operate in a range of very remote areas to service small
Indigenous Territorians. Closing the Gap strategies
communities. The mobile preschool visits each community
include improving early educational outcomes for
for about two days a week. It is staffed by a qualified teacher
all Territory children and enhancing developmental
(not necessarily an early childhood teacher) and on-site
and educational outcomes for Indigenous children.
teacher assistants.
Strategies include additional targeted early childhood
Child care centres are the second main type of early services including mobile preschools.
childhood service. Accredited child care centres enable
The formation of an early childhood division in the
families to access the Child Care Benefit, a subsidy to help
NT Department of Education and Training, movement
parents afford the service. Most early learning centres are
of child care administration to the NT Department
technically “child care centres”. Some provide a strong
of Education and Training, the assent of the Care
educational program and employ qualified early childhood
and Protection of Children Act and a new Children’s
staff. At present, however, there is no requirement for
Commission should all boost early childhood provision,
NT child care centres to employ a qualified early
access and quality.
childhood teacher.
The high proportion of young children in the Territory
Other types of early childhood services in the NT include
makes quality early childhood especially important.
Commonwealth-funded Multifunctional Aboriginal
NT communities are the most youthful in the country.
Children’s Services and crèches. These “budget-based”
In June 2007, 51,800 children (24.1 per cent) were
services are primarily for Indigenous children, and are not
aged 15 years and under from the NT’s population
required to meet normal national accreditation standards.
of 218,000 overall. There were an estimated 3642
They include long day care, playgroups, outside-school-
four year olds. Some 40 per cent of NT children are
hours-care, school holiday care and other culturally
Indigenous and the Indigenous population is growing
relevant programs.
at twice the annual projected rate for the wider
The national diversity in early childhood service quality Australian population. By 2013 Indigenous children
and access is polarised in the Territory. We have some of the will comprise 50 per cent of all Territory children.
10 CHARLES, MY HERO Origins
Charles, My Hero
The man who changed a world view
Charles Darwin is my hero because he accomplished so much that is
so important. By changing the way humans view their place in nature,
he created a paradigm shift, a very rare event in the history of science:
the replacement of one world view by another.
The shift from creation to evolution Darwin drew the first evolutionary tree showing the
has moved intellectual endeavours relatedness of all animal life (1837). He explained how coral
from untestable belief to rational reefs form (1842) and contributed to geological observations
understanding that flows from the on earth movements (1844) and the deformation theory of
scientific method. This, in turn, has metamorphic rock (1846). He described all known barnacle
allowed a staggering array of advances species, fossil and living (1851-1854). Darwin explained how
in knowledge. Darwin is considered orchids are fertilised by insects (1862) and how plants climb
one of the most influential scientists (1865). He introduced the “control” in “controlled experiment”
who ever lived because the theory of and he catalogued the variation in domestic plants and
evolution is one of the most powerful animals (1868). He explained human origins and sexual
ideas in science and may well be the selection in ways never before articulated (1870-71), and
greatest idea ever had by the human discussed human and animal emotions (1872).
mind. Darwin supplied an explanation
The latter work was one of the first books to use photographs.
for the great diversity of life and
Darwin showed how insectivorous plants growing on
showed that all life, including human,
impoverished soils utilise nitrogen-rich insects (1875), and
is related by descent from a common
he demonstrated that the offspring of cross-fertilised plants
ancestor. No other biologist has had an
were more numerous and vigorous than self-fertilised ones
impact of this magnitude.
(1876, 1877). His observations of climbing plants laid the
The elegant simplicity of Darwin’s foundation for the field of plant growth hormones (1880), and
reasoning can be distilled as follows. his work on earthworms (1881) is a classic study in ecology.
There is variation in nature and many Any one of these achievements could constitute a life’s work
more offspring are generated than can for most scientists. Darwin accomplished all of this with grace
survive, therefore there is a struggle for and dignity. He was a devoted husband and father, and his
survival in which favourable variations personal life was a model for emulation.
are preserved and unfavourable
tim m. berra is Professor Emeritus of Evolution,
variations are removed. This process
Ecology and Organismal Biology at the Ohio State
leads to evolution which he defined
University, Research Associate at the Museum
as “descent with modification” and
and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, a
to speciation, the formation of new
two-time Fulbright Fellow, and author of six
species. Since nature is doing the
books including Charles Darwin: The Concise
oncise
selecting for the forms best adapted
Story of an Extraordinary Man.
to a particular environment, he
called the process natural selection
as opposed to artificial selection
that is imposed by breeders. Darwin
borrowed the expression “survival of
the fittest” from economist Herbert
Spencer. Evolutionary fitness means antennae
Professor Tim Berra will be keynote speaker at the Charles
rles
text reproductive fitness. In modern terms, Darwin Symposium in Darwin from 22 – 24 Septemberr
Tim Berra the fittest is the one who gets the most 2009. Titled Charles Darwin: Shaping our Science,
genes into the next generation, not Society and Future, the Symposium celebrates the
200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth and
photograph necessarily the biggest or strongest the 150th anniversary of the publication of On
Courtesy Tim Berra individual. the Origin of Species. W: cdu.edu.au/cdss2009.
Origins ON THE MOVE 11
12 ON THE MOVE Origins
Digesting crocs’
secrets – from
the inside out
Crocodiles are ancient creatures Most of the world’s crocodilians are threatened or
endangered, and although Australia’s two species of
that have survived environmental
crocodiles have enjoyed three decades of population growth
catastrophes over the millennia. since they were protected, these species too face new
And many of the characteristics challenges to their survival, including the effects of climate
that have allowed them to survive change and invasive species such as cane toads.
into the 21st Century are only now Professor Keith Christian and Dr Chris Tracy, from CDU’s
beginning to be understood. School of Environmental and Life Sciences, have joined
with Professor Grahame Webb and Charlie Manolis, of
Wildlife Management International (WMI) and Crocodylus
Park, in two projects to investigate the unique adaptations
of crocodiles and their susceptibility to environmental
disturbances.
understand the pattern revealed by the initial experiments. Variability among populations in
Either way, the results will provide new insight into the various river systems may be caused
inner workings of crocodiles, and ultimately these insights by any number of factors, such as
may be able to be exploited to produce an improved diet the ability of individual crocs to
for captive animals. learn not to eat toads, the speed at
which populations may evolve to
A second project, which will begin mid-year, pending a
learn to not eat toads, or pre-existing
successful ARC application, will examine the effects of
differences among populations in
cane toads on populations of freshwater crocodiles.
their propensity to eat frogs and
It is well established that crocodiles can die after eating a toads. The latter possibility could
cane toad, and since both crocs and toads inhabit the edges relate to the fact that there are some
of waterways, it seems a forgone conclusion that toads will native frogs in some river systems
decimate freshwater crocodile populations. that are also toxic, raising the
possibility that crocodiles in those
There are, however, several complicating factors. One factor
areas may have a long-established
relates to the main predators of freshwater crocodile eggs,
aversion to eating frogs. These are
goannas, being poisoned by toads. With fewer goannas
among the various possibilities that
around, many more hatchlings may be produced, even if
researchers hope to investigate over
larger crocodiles were to die as a result of eating toads.
the next few years.
Determining the balance between these opposing forces is
one of the aims of the new project. The freshwater crocodiles in
McKinlay River will be an important
Another complicating factor is related to apparent
part of the study because of the
differences in the susceptibility of freshwater crocodile
long-term population data that have
populations to cane toads – at least based on preliminary
been collected since the 1970s by
observations.
WMI staff.
Drs Jonathan Webb (formerly of CDU) and Mike Letnic, of the
Analyses of the population structure,
University of Sydney, recently documented high mortality
size-dependant survivorship, and
among freshwater crocodiles soon after the invasion of
reproduction before and after the
toads in the NT’s Victoria River. Similar observations have
cane toad invasion will result in
been made in other rivers, including Katherine River. But
one of the most comprehensive
preliminary observations in McKinlay River suggest much
population studies of any long-lived
less mortality.
reptile. In a sense, the invasion
Although a thorough survey of McKinlay River has not been of cane toads and their effect
carried out since the arrival of toads (that will be the top on crocodile populations is an
priority if the ARC funding is successful), a survey of nests evolutionary experiment on a grand
found no reduction after the arrival of the toads, suggesting scale – the sort that crocodiles have,
that female numbers have not declined. so far, endured over the millennia.
16 ON THE MOVE Origins
The Conservation and Land “I had to be myself and deliver subjects from their
Management Lecturer has a special perspective. I found my cultural connection with these men
link with his students who are located made a huge difference,” he said.
in Tennant Creek, 500km north of his
This meant adapting his experiences and knowledge of
Alice Springs base. Wayne, who is of
Indigenous people in his backyard of Northern Australia to
eastern Aranda descent, returned to
those in Central Australia.
his Central Australia birthplace which
he left when he was removed from his “At first, it was a challenge. I had to think in a desert way
family as a five-year-old and placed and let go of my Top End experience, but once they got to
in Retta Dixon Homes in Darwin, know who I was the process changed because we developed
managed by the Aboriginal Inland the respect between us,” he said.
Mission.
“Weed spraying is a classic example because to them
The challenges of Aboriginal identity (Indigenous people) killing plants doesn’t make sense, some
and the confusion of not belonging of them have a cultural value.”
were elements of Wayne’s life, but
His solution was to explain that dangerous bushfires were
at a young age he also developed
more of a threat to bush tucker. “It’s all about final delivery
a passion for the environment
and fitting education into the world they live,” Wayne said.
and eventually became a highly
successful cultural and natural land And the results have been impressive. His first group of
management specialist. Certificate I in Conservation Land Management students last
year registered a 96 per cent pass rate. Many of them are
text The land has been a consistent
Jason McIntosh now working with Wayne to complete their Certificate II in
theme throughout his career which
Conservation Land Management.
photograph
has included working in Top End
Jason McIntosh Indigenous communities as a ranger He said he was thrilled to see the efforts of his students,
co-ordinator, a stockman on cattle many of whom are his direct relations. “It gives me such a
above stations and as an Indigenous land great feeling to see them work so hard,” he said.
Wayne Barbour
management facilitator.
Whale shark’s
wayward journey
Marine scientist mark meekan had
the feeling that something was amiss
when the five-metre-long whale shark
he was tracking via satellite suddenly
appeared to be heading inland.
Dr Meekan, of the Australian Institute of Marine Science Scientists are concerned that the
in Darwin, had been following the movements of the average length of whale sharks at
enormous fish for months on its 4000km journey from Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia
Christmas Island, 500km south of Jakarta in Indonesia, has dropped from seven metres to five
across to West Papua, and back south again. metres in the past 10 years.
The high-tech tracking tag on its back was collecting Numbers have also declined, with
important new information about these mysterious giants - collisions with vessels a likely source
the world’s largest fish – which can migrate up to 12,000km of deaths.
and are under threat from ocean-going vessels in Asia which
With West Australian Tourism relying
harvest the sharks for commercial purposes.
heavily on the whale sharks drawing
But out of the blue, the shark’s journey stopped abruptly just thousands of visitors to Ningaloo Reef
off West Timor. every year, debate on how to best
address the declining numbers has
Dr Meekan recalled how he realised with dismay that the
become more intense.
tag, and perhaps the whale shark, had ended up on a remote
beach. Then, to his surprise, the tag began to move inland. “About 25 per cent of the animals
at Ningaloo have scars that could
“I could follow its path to a village and I could see it was
be attributed to boat strikes,”
sitting in a house,” Dr Meekan said.
Dr Meekan said.
After overlaying the signal on to Google Earth maps, he
Understanding more about their
quickly launched a rescue operation for the device because
movements and slow reproductive
“the data it contained was absolutely invaluable”.
biology were the keys to their
A research associate at Charles Darwin University, Conrad protection.
Speed, went to the far-flung village about three kilometres
“For such a rapid decline to be
inland, pinpointed the house and offered a reward for the
observed in such a long-lived
$4000 tag’s return.
species suggests a strong mortality
“A local villager looking for turtle eggs had found it on the source,” he said.
beach,” Dr Meekan said.
Fishing in Asia is also depleting photograph
Courtesy Rob Harcourt
White scratch marks on the blue surface revealed the tag numbers and researchers have
probably had been ripped from the back of the gentle whale established a project to help text
shark by another shark and then washed ashore. develop small ecotourism Richie Hodgson
operations in Indonesia to
Very little is known about the behaviour of whale sharks in
preserve the ocean giants.
the open ocean. But the record stored on the recovered tag
revealed that the gigantic fish had dived to depths of more “We see that as one of the most
than 1000 metres. useful ways to ensure the future
of the animals,” he said.
“It’s extremely dark and very cold down there, less than 10
degrees,” Dr Meekan said.
18 ON THE MOVE Origins
left
Ruby Yarrowin in the 1960s
country live
Karrabing work, and to establish a sustainable life at Anson
Bay. She remains a constant voice of encouragement for
them to gain essential skills. Some of the people already
have certificates in welding, carpentry, and power and
In 1984, young American student water management, but what they don’t have is money or
elizabeth povinelli travelled to Darwin physical resources, something Karrabing could provide if
to study the economic practices and it has an economic flow-on effect. If the concept succeeds,
the families hope to develop a tourism business, or have it
political views of Indigenous women. adapted for use at tourist Meccas around the globe as a “live
She has returned every year since. guide” embedded into the destination.
Nomad finds a
home in e-learning
As an adventure-seeker and nomad by nature, it came as no
surprise to Canadian-born bill wade to find himself living in
the Northern Territory’s Top End.
From an early age, the newly years of self-directed distance learning, I have become a
appointed Associate Professor and huge advocate for its merits.”
Head of the School of Creative
First and foremost Bill describes himself as a teacher by
Arts and Humanities caught the
profession. He began his career as a primary schoolteacher
wandering bug, inherited no doubt
before transitioning out of the classroom to chair teacher
from his father who worked in
education programs for Canada’s Northwest Territories.
international construction.
In 2006 he moved the 22,000 kms from the Northwest
His father’s career dictated that
Territories of Canada to Darwin to take up a lecturing post at
the young Bill Wade would spend
Charles Darwin University.
his formative years far from his
native Ontario. Since arriving at CDU, Bill has immersed himself in the fields
of creative arts, new media, distance education, flexible and
text At the tender age of 12, Bill lived in
Row Booker online learning, and e-learning in general, an interest he
Iran while his father trained locals
attributes to his own experience as an external student.
in the production of pulp and paper.
photograph
Peter Eve
Later the family relocated to Israel, “I’m passionate on the merits of e-learning and have written
again following his father’s work this articles, papers and delivered numerous presentations
above time in aircraft hanger construction. promoting its worth as an educational strategy. Evidence
Bill Wade proves that it can further engage youth in the creative arts
And his global odyssey continued
and go some way towards levelling the playing field in terms
into adulthood with Bill and his
of closing the gap on educational disadvantage,” Bill said.
young family now calling themselves
“Territorians”. For more than 20 years, Bill has championed how technology
can enhance the teaching and learning experiences of both
Similarly, the seeds of his career
teachers and students
path grew out of his own educational
experiences as a youngster and his In 2000 his work as both an educator and researcher was
life-long passion for the creative and recognised with the Canadian New Media Educator of the
performing arts as a musician, audio Year award and in Australia he is fast gaining recognition in
engineer and producer of numerous the field of e-learning through his coordination of the annual
CD projects and multimedia titles distance education technology conference MobilizeThis.
while working in Canada’s Northwest
Since arriving at CDU, Bill has won the respect of his
Territories.
colleagues and peers, being named the CDU 2008 Champion
“I was schooled entirely by distance of the Year for Teaching and Learning Leadership for the
education for both Year 8 and Year 11 Faculty of Law, Business and Arts.
while I was living in the Middle-East,”
He also has a vested interest in opening critical discourse
Bill said.
and debate on “innovation tensions”, which he explains as
“Later in life I again studied externally the juxtaposition that exists between ICT systems needing
to complete my Master’s in Distance to offer safe environments for students and VET or Higher
Education at Canada’s University of Education educators wanting to use innovative technologies
Athabasca, so through my 10-plus and to engage in “authentic innovation”.
Way forward in A wet and dreary October morning in Port Moresby marks
the beginning of a one-week workshop with representation
PNG’s maternal
from all Papua New Guinea’s midwifery teaching
institutions, health department and other stakeholders.
mortality crisis
This was the third visit by World Health Organisation
(WHO) consultant and Charles Darwin University Associate
Professor – Child Health, Sue Kruske, to help to address the
desperate situation of maternal mortality experienced by
Australia’s northern neighbour.
After walking for eight hours, a woman
To say the country’s maternal services are in a poor state
bleeds to death with a newborn child
would be an understatement of epic proportions.
in her arms at the entrance of Goroka
In 2008, a number of events occurred in PNG that
hospital in Papua New Guinea. She
highlighted the escalating problems within the country’s
dies because she doesn’t have 10 Kina maternal services. The most significant was the release
(A$5), the hospital’s admission charge. of maternal mortality estimates contained in the latest
Health Demographic Survey results which indicated a more
than twofold increase in the PNG maternal mortality rate
from 370 to more than 730 per 100,000 in the past 10 years.
The estimates rank PNG among the worst in the world for
maternal mortality.
services to provide skilled care for women in pregnancy, officers who administered basic text
childbirth and the postnatal period,” Dr Kruske said. medicines and care.” Richie Hodgson
Currently, there are insufficient midwives in PNG and the Maternal and child health patrols
photographs
number being trained still won’t come close to addressing regularly walked to remote villages to Courtesy Associate
the workforce shortages. provide education, antenatal care and Professor Sue Kruske
vaccinations. By 1982, 93 per cent
With so many contributing factors to the poor state of
of the population lived within a
maternal and child health in PNG, a workable solution
two-hour walk of a health care facility
seemed almost impossible, she said. “Women have very poor
and the child mortality rate had
status in the country, particularly in rural areas. Infectious
nearly halved from 20 per cent in
diseases such as HIV are reaching endemic proportions and
1960 to around 11 per cent.
the health service infrastructure has slowly been eroded in
the past 30 years. Stakeholders estimate that up to 50 per But progress in PNG’s health status
cent of rural health facilities have closed in the past 30 years. has declined over the past 30 years.
PNG is ruled by its geography, with only a handful of bone- To reverse this trend, a Ministerial
jarring, snaking roads crossing the mountain ranges to link Taskforce on Maternal Health has
key centres. Electricity and sewerage services struggle to been established and is reviewing a
reach even large towns, and lack of infrastructure dictates large number of submissions before
that 85 per cent of the population still eke out a living as making recommendations to the
subsistence gardeners. Minister on a proposed way forward.
For millennia before the arrival of Western civilisation, tiny The one-week workshop in Port far left above
Art returns
Robyn’s stolen heart
Before falling asleep, young robyn mcinerney’s thoughts would drift into
the world that lay within an old suitcase beneath her bed. It was here that
the threads of her identity were held and the place from which her healing
would begin.
photographs Always near her side, the crayons, paints and paper inside
Jason McIntosh
the suitcase under her bed gave the young Robyn McInerney
solace among the unsettling foster homes, orphanages and
text
Jason McIntosh state care of her childhood.
I got so institutionalised,
I cried when I left.
handles turbulence and the types of conditions in tropical The well-travelled researcher,
cyclones extremely well. It has all the advantages of being however, is quick to remember where
small, which means it’s very strong,” he said. his journey began and the dramatic
changes his career has brought to
“Essentially what this aircraft can do is fly in underneath
his life. “My time in the Top End is
the clouds in the really intense parts of the cyclone and
remembered with great affection.
take the temperature, pressure and humidity observations
I came to experience the tropical
and, of course, the very important winds. And we know that
weather and to learn how it ticks,”
will improve the forecast system by 30 to 40 per cent, which
he said.
means we are much better able to warn vulnerable coastal
communities.” “Darwin gets in your blood, the
friendly and informal attitude, the
Dr Holland’s publications have included major contributions
outdoor lifestyle fishing for barra
to six textbooks and forecast manuals, together with more
and just being out in the bush, and,
than 100 research papers in atmospheric sciences and UAVs.
of course Tracy, which firmly set me
At age 60, when most would be thinking about a comfortable down an exciting and tremendously
low-key retirement, Dr Holland’s passion for meteorology, satisfying career path. Fortunately,
cyclones, and atmospheric research is as strong as ever. this path brought me back to
Darwin on several occasions as we
He talks enthusiastically about his career and offers these
established one of the major global
words of advice for aspiring meteorologists: “This is one of
meteorological experimental sites in
the great careers. Because the weather is everywhere, we live
the area.”
in our own laboratory and every day you wake up and look
out the window at something new and interesting.”
Distance educators The latest twist in the dynamic duo’s lives came in 2004
when they identified an opportunity to improve the way
REACT to need
education was delivered to geographically dispersed
students.
antennae
Suzanne Wilson is also a lecturer in marketing at CDU.
Origins BENEFACTOR 27
NT family digs
deep to support
CDU students
Territorians mike and cheryl flynn
have donated $100,000 in scholarships
to CDU to teach the environmentalists
of tomorrow.
text
The Darwin-based Flynn family has gifted the scholarship each graduated from the university
Row Booker
money to support students of CDU’s Bachelor of with qualifications in the fields of
Environmental Research. children’s services, business and photograph
information technology. “Our Father Courtesy Flynn family
The family’s youngest daughter, Jennifer Hawker, said
was very keen to pass on the same
the family believed that graduates of the Bachelor of
opportunities that were made above
Environmental Research would be in a position to make a Generous donors to CDU,
available to us as CDU graduates.”
valuable contribution to the wider world. Mike and Cheryl Flynn.
Director of Development for External
“As the well-being of the environment directly affects each
Relations at CDU, Serhat Abdurazak
and every individual, our family believes that environmental
said the university was extremely
research is an incredibly worthy area to invest in, with
grateful to the family for making the
benefits not only for those of us here now but also for all
very generous donation.
generations to come.”
“As the university was only formed
The generous donation is all about investing in the future.
back in 2003, we are still a very young
“Our father raised us on the doctrine that education equals organisation so benefactors in the
opportunities and that is exactly what he is trying to create form of alumni are hard to come by.
for the recipients of our scholarships,” Jennifer said.
“We’re delighted that the Flynn
“We’re hoping that our scholarships will encourage and family has dug so deep to donate
support students who are passionate about environmental this money to us and we’re equally
research though may not be in a position to access the pleased that it is going into the field
education opportunities available at CDU. of environmental research, an area
of excellence for our university,” Mr
“If we can make it easier for a student like that to get
Abdurazak said.
through their studies, then it could just be that they go on to
make a real difference to our future,” she said. He said the donation would make a
real difference to the recipients.
The Flynn family has strong connections with CDU. Mike
and Cheryl’s three children Tracy, Jennifer and Wayne
28 Q&A Origins
Q
&
A Warming up on the training track
From lawyer to political adviser to VET Director, there’s one clear thread
that runs through the career of aaron devine – making a difference
where it’s needed most.
interview In 2006, you moved from one end of Australia policy management. I really liked working for
Robyn McDougall to the other, from Tassie to the Top End. What Jim Bacon, he was extraordinary. His mind was
lured you from the role of General Manager of exceptional and his vision for Tasmania and the
photographs
Peter Eve
TAFE Tasmania and Executive Manager of the implementation of that vision was great to be
Drysdale Institute to join CDU as Director of VET a part of. I gave my all to his time in office and
and Teaching Quality? after six years was ready for a change.
I thought the role in the Top End was very I personally wanted to try something different
exciting. I hadn’t worked for a dual sector and to try to get a work-life balance. I’d worked
organisation previously and that was also a point closely with industry policy and VET policy,
of interest. My wife, Sandra, and I were ready and really liked that area. It’s a positive area of
for a bit of an adventure before our children government policy and that attracted me.
got more settled in school, so we were looking
for work overseas and I was following up some How did your interest in politics develop?
opportunities in China. Moving to the Top End
My father was always interested in politics and
was like a mini-adventure, a long way from
was, for a while, a member of the Tasmanian
Tassie, remote, different and exciting.
Parliament, so I always was interested. My
individual passion escalated when I was at uni
far right Did you have any first-hand experience of the
Aaron Devine and also working and living in a community
NT before you ventured up?
drop-in house in one of Hobart’s poorest
No, none. I’d never been here. suburbs. It was during the depths of the Keating
“recession that we had to have” and things were
What was the biggest surprise? dire in Tassie with unemployment rampant
and cutbacks in social programs the order of
The beauty of the place, the landscape both in
the day. At the same time as I was working with
Darwin and Alice. It was so different from the
families that were literally struggling to feed
Tasmanian landscape. The colours are different
and clothe their kids, the State Government
and the lushness of the Wet was fantastic.
under the Liberals awarded politicians a 40 per
cent pay rise. I was outraged. The most critical
Your early career as a lawyer and then senior
opponent of the award was the head of the union
policy and political adviser to a former
movement in Tassie at the time and his name
Tasmanian Premier, the late Jim Bacon, suggests
was Jim Bacon, so I went and introduced myself
more than a passing interest in politics. Why
to him and we became friends. Jim’s wife and I
the switch away from politics to education
ran his campaign for Parliament. He got elected
management?
with the highest vote of any new member in
I loved politics and still do! I will never Tasmanian history.
completely walk away from it, and in some
ways I do see VET as another way of assisting VET at this university is an impressive
in making people’s lives better. I spent nearly enterprise. It represents almost 75 per cent of
six years in a premier’s office, working maniacal the student base, delivers training into more
hours and usually in a very high-pressure than 100 remote communities and offers a great
environment. Working for politicians also has assortment of programs. How did you view the
a tendency to give you a jaundiced view of life. task when you started?
You’re normally called into issues because
I was initially surprised by the unique parts of
something has gone wrong or an issue can’t
the VET enterprise at CDU, in particular remote
be easily solved. So you spend a lot of time in
delivery and the dual sector nature of the
crisis management and less than you’d like on
business. I really had no experience of remote
Origins Q&A 29
Q
We’re the experts in this field and have some really &
passionate and hard-working staff who are committed
to Indigenous Australians and improving the skills and A
capacity of all Territorians.
delivery when I started and I wanted to try to understand What are VET’s top three challenges for 2009?
it quickly. Like any new job, you have to put the hours into
I think maintaining the level of apprentice training will
understanding the issues and seeing how you can assist in
be a challenge for VET generally and for CDU. With the
improving outcomes.
global financial crisis, we must do all we can to try to
I had a fantastic trip “down the track” from Darwin to Alice keep apprentices in training so we don’t dig another skills
in my first few weeks. The Director Rural and Remote, shortage hole for the Australian economy for when things
Paul Fitzsimons, together with Jason McIntosh (who had improve.
also just started with CDU as PR officer) and I spent the
The policy environment is pretty turbulent, so dealing with
week travelling around the NT. We dropped into remote
the outcomes of the Bradley Review into Higher Education
communities and visited all our main campuses and
and the Cutler Innovations Review will keep us all busy.
centres. It was hot, fun, enlightening and the start of some
great friendships and also my understanding of remote Finally, and most importantly, the third biggest challenge is
communities and their training needs. It’s an understanding improving the outcomes for two key client groups of CDU,
that’s still developing. school students and Indigenous communities. I hope CDU
can be a catalyst in developing some alternate pathways
And now? for people who leave school without completing year 11
or 12…And I hope to be able to work with both levels
I think that the national training framework is failing
of government with a clean sheet of paper on how we
remote communities. We clearly need a different approach
can assist Indigenous outcomes in remote communities
to engaging with remote communities and I think that
through the national training system.
needs to be built around community engagement and
development programs that are established by the
Do you want to talk about the opportunities?
communities themselves. Equally, training for jobs where
they exist is also important. This is the challenge moving CDU is a great VET provider, and it’s interesting that many
forward for the VET system, trying to find a system that Territorians don’t realise that compared with TAFEs in other
works better than the current one. I think that both local parts of Australia, CDU comes out exceptionally well. The
and federal policy makers understand this and I know student and industry satisfaction data at CDU is first class,
they’re trying to improve outcomes. so if the customers like what you do then there is a great
opportunity for CDU to grow both in the NT and outside the
CDU certainly has the expertise to engage in this debate
borders.
and to shape the policy. We’re the experts in this field and
have some really passionate and hard-working staff who I think the other great opportunity for CDU is in pathway
are committed to Indigenous Australians and improving the development and providing our students with seamless
skills and capacity of all Territorians. pathways between vocational training and higher
education. Unlike a TAFE, CDU can provide both hands-
You were recognised with a major national award in on practical skills to students through VET and then good
the VET system, the AUSTAFE Award for Educational credit arrangement for a degree.
Leadership in 2008. It recognised your leadership and
Finally, I think we need to grab the opportunity to up-skill
contribution to VET. What are the hallmarks of a good
existing workers with higher level qualifications. We need
leader in this sector?
to assist business in building their productivity and be a
It is critical for the modern VET manager to recognise the partner in improving profit outcomes for businesses.
importance of VET to the economic base of Australia. Being
a capable manager of change is critical due to the ever-
changing policy environment. Having entrepreneurial skills
is now critical. The best VET managers are also passionate
about VET!
30 REGIONAL Origins
But Olga isn’t far behind now. Her new language skills have
just helped her to land a service assistant position at Gove
Hospital and, judging by her background – she was a lecturer
in Russian tax law, this job will be the start of a rich career.
left
Olga Postans
antennae
The Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) is sponsored by the Department of
Immigration and Citizenship to provide English classes for migrants and refugees. The
AMEP delivers to about 300 students across CDU’s campuses and centres, with Thailand,
Indonesia and China representing the top three countries of origin.
Origins LIMITED EDITION 31
Alan Griffiths
Jooba from the Waringarri Suite
2008
Etching on paper
Edition of 50
image 25 x 25 cm
paper size 52 x 40cm
collaborator
Dian Darmansjah
printers
Gertjan Forrer and Glynis Lee
limited edition
Alan Griffiths’ quirkily delightful etching Joonba represents a His employment has also included time as cook, plumber
group of men performing a ceremonial dance cycle from the and tractor driver, but it wasn’t until he retired in 1981 that
Kimberley region. he began painting.
The small animated figures are dotted across the surface of Alan and his wife Peggy, also a prominent artist, are
the image in undulating lines conveying a sense of rhythm key performers in dance ceremonies which are themes
and movement. frequently appearing in Alan’s work.
Toward the lower section of the work is a playful contrast He is acutely aware of the importance of keeping tradition
of four seated figures performing with their clapsticks, alive through art and dance, ensuring that culture remains
disrupting the otherwise uniform pattern of the dancers. strong for future generations.
Like many artists from the Kimberley region of Western Alan’s etching was created during a printmaking workshop
Australia, Alan Griffiths draws his artistic inspiration from at Northern Editions and is from the recent Waringarri
the country where he has lived and worked. Suite released in August 2008. For more information,
visit W: http://northerneditions.com.au/.
Born at Victoria River Station in the Northern Territory in
1933, Alan has had extensive experience as a stockman on
cattle stations in the NT and Western Australia. photograph Anne Chivas
32 OPINION Origins
Charles Darwin:
Breaking the chain
To be Aboriginal in Australia today is to be
classified according to race, wendy brady argues.
photograph We are continually engaged in plan now had natural selection influencing “progress towards
Peter Eve justifying our rights as Indigenous perfection” (Darwin 1859. On the Origin of Species).
people or disproving the fallacies of
below When “On the Origin of Species” was published, its focus
racism. The classifying of humanity
Wendy Brady was flora and fauna, however, it provided an opportunity for
began long before Charles Darwin
those who believed in a hierarchy of races to misconstrue
wrote “On the Origin of Species”.
it as justification for imperialism and colonisation of
Hierarchies of race were in place and
Indigenous nations. Herbert Spencer, who had pre-empted
for Aboriginal Australians we had
Darwin on natural selection, advanced his interpretation of
already been allocated our place at
Social-Darwinism by emphasising competition as the key to
the lowest link of the “Great Chain
the fittest surviving.
of Being”.
Under pressure to expand his theories on natural selection
antennae The “Great Chain of Being” had its
Professor Wendy Brady is Darwin, in “The Descent of Man” (1882), noted that
origins in ancient Greece and by the
Head of the School of colonisation brought with it disease, ill health, death, and
Australian Indigenous Renaissance it was a divine plan. God
a decline in living conditions for Indigenous nations. Being
Knowledge Systems at CDU was at the top and each link down the
a man of his time he believed that “civilised races can
chain became less perfect. Charles
certainly resist changes in their habits”. Unfortunately, his
Darwin was aware of this taxonomy
conclusions were distorted and misunderstood. In Australia
but saw it as a line of descent from
the interpretation was that Aboriginal people were less fit
a few select beings. Darwin still had
than the colonising population. Their answer was to civilise
God as the Creator, but the divine
and Christianise Aboriginal Australians.
This topic will form the basis of one of the most eagerly
anticipated discussions at the Charles Darwin Symposium,
“Charles Darwin: Shaping our Science, Society and Future”
which will take place at the Darwin Convention Centre from
22 – 24 September 2009.
left In a theme entitled “Understanding the controversy between
Keith Christian
Darwinian Science and Religion”, a panel of experts drawn
from across the globe will discuss the intersection between
science and religion from their own unique perspectives.
And he has certainly sourced the right people for the task.
The theme will chart the rise of anti-Darwin forms of The final day will herald discussion on the ethical
religion, anti-religious forms of Darwinism and religious repercussions of Darwin’s evolutionary theory,
forms of Darwinism, ultimately seeking to answer the particularly focussing upon the controversy
question “can the bounds of science and religion really between Darwinian science and religion. This
be so clearly defined?” theme will further discuss the rise of anti-Darwin
forms of religion, anti-religious forms of Darwinism
“I’m hoping that through our themed discussion, we can and religious forms of Darwinism, ultimately
explore the scope for compatibility between science and seeking to answer the question: is there scope for
religion, taking into account historical contexts as well as compatibility between science and religion?
social and political contexts within the modern world,”
Professor Christian said. The symposium will close with a panel discussion
about Darwin and society including how social
Darwinism (ie, survival of the fittest) has impacted
on Indigenous Australians in the past and present.
Not only is 2009 the 200th Through a collection of anecdotes, Professor Berra will
anniversary of his birth, but it is also emphasise the human side of Darwin by dealing with
150 years since his revolutionary his family relationships and interactions with his closest
work “On the Origin of Species” was advisors.
published.
“In the presentation I talk about his happy marriage
And it is this contentious publication to his first cousin, Emma Wedgwood, with whom he
that will form the basis of the Charles had 10 children. I show how he was an openly devoted
Darwin Symposium, “Charles Darwin: and affectionate father with each and every one of his
Shaping our Science, Society and children. How he grieved terribly for the loss of his eldest
Future” which will take place at daughter, Annie, who was just 10 years old when she
the Darwin Convention Centre died of consumption – a death which led him to abandon
from 22 – 24 September 2009. Christianity altogether, stating that he simply could no
longer imagine a just and merciful God would allow such
text Delivering the key note speech
suffering of innocent children.
Row Booker at the symposium will be world-
renowned Darwin specialist Tim “I discuss his work and, in particular, how he anticipated
photograph
Berra, an Emeritus Professor of the public’s reaction to an account of a godless origin of
Courtesy Tim Berra
Evolution, Ecology and Organismal the species and how he therefore was always searching to
above Biology at the Ohio State University. develop more evidence.
Professor Tim Berra,
planning to put a human Professor Berra’s 90-minute opening “The presentation ends with an account of Darwin’s death
face to Charles Darwin. lecture will recount the fascinating on 19 April 1882 aged 73, brought on by a heart attack.
story of the person and the idea that
“Despite his beloved and devoted wife Emma’s request for
changed how we view the world.
a simple funeral, Charles – at the request of 20 members of
The lecture is based on his recently
parliament – was instead laid to rest with much pomp and
published book and has the same
ceremony at Westminster Abbey. His grave now lies in the
title, “Charles Darwin: The Concise
nave, a few feet from that of Isaac Newton and Charles Lyell.
Story of an Extraordinary Man”.
The funeral was attended by Darwin’s surviving children,
“My lecture covers Darwin’s representatives from the United States, France, Germany,
revolutionary scientific work, its Italy, Spain and Russia and by those of universities and
impact on modern-day biological every scientific society within Great Britain as well as a large
science, and the influence of Darwin’s number of personal friends and distinguished men. However,
evolutionary theory on Western his wife Emma did not attend the funeral to preserve her
thought,” Professor Berra said. privacy,” Professor Berra said.
The infection,
immunity partnership
One of the most eagerly anticipated speakers at this year’s Charles
Darwin Symposium is Nobel Laureate Professor peter doherty AC,
who will explore the interaction between infection and immunity.
Doherty AC, will open the first full day of discussion at the Row Booker
Professor Doherty, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for left
Physiology or Medicine in 1996 and named Australian of Peter Doherty AC
the Year the following year, is a researcher dedicated to the
exploration of the immune system. A medical researcher
who trained initially as a veterinary scientist, Professor
Doherty will present on the topic: The co-evolution of
infection and immunity. He will explore Darwinian science at
work in human populations through “interface with simpler
life forms that seek to live in or on us”, an interaction more
commonly known as infection.
“The emergence of slowly reproducing, multi-cellular, like what Europeans were genetically
multi-organ systems like us has only been possible because before plague struck, a disease that
we developed a complex, adaptive immune system that uses from the time it first invaded in the
a vast spectrum of chemical recognition units (receptors) to 14th Century and for hundreds of
bind other entities (proteins, peptides, carbohydrates) that years afterwards killed half to one-
are characteristic of rapidly replicating micros-organisms third of the population of Europe,”
like viruses, bacteria and fungi,” Professor Doherty said. Professor Doherty said.
“There can be no doubt that infection provided the His presentation will include the
selective pressure that drove the evolution of what “shaping” effect that pathogens
we call adaptive immunity. have when introduced to human
“Almost everyone is persistently infected with one or populations including the impact
more types of herpes virus: herpes simplex virus (cold malaria had in the Mediterranean
sores), herpes zoster (chicken pox, shingles), Epstein Barr with the emergence of sickle cell
virus (infectious mononucleosis) and cytomegalo virus. disease (Thalessemia).
“On the whole, we live reasonably happily with these viruses “In this disease the red cell is changed
and they with us because we are their sole maintaining in a way that does not support the
hosts, their only home,” he said. life of a malaria parasite but is barely
able to transport the oxygen that we
There are organisms, however, that are normally maintained need to live, an evolutionary trade-off
in other hosts. that continues to cause severe disease
“Organisms like the rat-born, flea-transmitted Yersinia Pestis and death,” Professor Doherty said.
(plague) or the yellow fever virus that survives in wildlife He will conclude on a controversial
reservoirs and is spread by mosquitoes have no vested examination of what he calls the
interest in adapting to us, though they must have exerted a “intriguing and indisputable fact
massive selective pressure in historical time. that, as we look at the obfuscation of
“Up until now, we have had little direct evidence on how the creationists, they don’t ever seek
viruses may have changed our genomes as we had no to claim infectious agents for their
baseline for comparison. But now that we can recover mythology-based agenda”.
Neanderthal DNA, we should be able to probe questions
38 PUBLISHING Origins
Stephen Garnett, Kristal Coe, Kate Foreword by Deputy Prime Minister of Timor-Leste, Dr. José
Golebiowska, Helen Walsh and Luis Guterres - Opening Address at the Conference, Darwin,
Kerstin Zander Australia, 7 February 2008
Institute for Advanced Studies,
Contributors: Fernanda Borges, Fiona Crockford, Annette
Charles Darwin University
Field, James J. Fox, Mark Green, Damian Grenfell, Jill Jolliffe,
Steven Guthridge, Shu Qin Li and Damien Kingsbury, Andrew McWilliam, Andrew Marriott,
Rosalyn Malyon Akihisa Matsuno, David Mearns, Sara Niner, Yukako Sakabe,
Health Gains Planning, NT Dennis Shoesmith, Pyone Myat Thu, Josh Trindade,
Department of Health and Families Bu V.E. Wilson
Origins PUBLISHING 39
Communicating at University:
Skills for Success
3rd edition
Nicola Rolls and Peter Wignell
paperback 250pp
ISBN-13: 9780980292398
Far Country: A Short History
of the Northern Territory This book aims to ensure that all students
tudentss h
have a g
good
Revised Edition foundation in the academic communication skills required
to succeed at university and in professional settings.
Alan Powell
paperback 248pp Topics include: writing in an academic style; thinking and
ISBN-13: 9780980457872 planning for assignments; developing effective reading and
critical evaluation techniques; note-taking, paraphrasing
This fifth edition of the classic history and summarising; referencing; editing for correct grammar,
has been revised to bring the Territory punctuation and conciseness; writing essays, reports,
story into the 21st Century. annotated bibliographies and critiques; and verbal
A.T. Yarwood, on the first (1982) communication.
edition of Far Country: Powell has The text is written by experts in the fields of applied
achieved an outstanding success. linguistics and academic literacy who are actively engaged
He writes with economy, power and in related teaching and research at CDU.
humanity of all the main phases of the
Territory’s history, starting with the
coming of the Aborigines…He moves
easily from the broad sweep of the
Information Communication
geographical and political context to the
Technology at University:
sharp focus of personality and action.
Skills for Success
Don Garden on the fourth (2000)
2nd edition
edition. This is… now effectively
Greg Shaw
a classic history. Far Country is a
paperback 223pp
fascinating and admirable history of the
ISBN-13: 9780980292329
Northern Territory… With commanding
sweep, Powell places this remote outpost A good foundation in using Information Communication
within the broader perspective of world Technology (ICT) is essential to students to research and
events, whether it be expanding Asian produce written and oral presentations successfully at
empires, European trading relations university and in the workplace.
and wars, or South Australian and
The text helps students to
federal politics… It ranges broadly
over the expected themes of a regional • Understand how computers are used in teaching and
history – Aboriginal society, European learning
exploration and the early European • Understand the principles of the computer-human
colonial settlements, race relations, the interface
struggle to establish viable industries, • Gain skills and understanding of the Internet, including
urban settlements, politics, local cultural Internet research and use of email
elements, literature and some of the
• Gain skills in using a word-processor to prepare
significant individuals. But the context of
assignments and reports
the Territory adds piquancy to the story
because of its environmental and human • Gain skills in using presentation software
uniqueness…To an observer from the • Gain skills in using spreadsheet software
south, it is… a far country.
This book takes a problem based learning approach with
Alan Powell is Emeritus Professor of scaffolding to assist the reader to understand and learn by
History at Charles Darwin University. doing. There are practical exercises throughout designed
In addition to Far Country, he is the to assist in this. ICT is changing rapidly and students and
author of Patrician Democrat, The universities use different variations of computers and
Shadow’s Edge, War By Stealth¸ The Third software. Consequently, a focus on generic principles and
Force and was the General Editor of skills involved in using a computer is taken. The book will
The Northern Territory Dictionary of be useful for both beginning computer users and users that
Biography, Volume 1. have some skills and knowledge but wish to extend these.
Charles Darwin University is passionate about offering students access to
the knowledge and special skills that a high-quality university education
can deliver.
You have the potential to make a significant contribution to important
Support your university areas of this University.
Personal details:
Title: ............................................................................................... Name: ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Postal address: ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Suburb:...................................................................................... State: .............................................................................................. Postcode: ......................................................................................
Email: ........................................................................................... Phone (W): ............................................................................ Phone (H):...................................................................................
A receipt will be sent to your postal address for your donation.
As a:
Single gift Gift every 6 months
Gift every 3 months Gift every month
Gift details:
Please make my payment via the following method:
Cheque / Money order enclosed (made payable to Charles Darwin University Foundation)
Please tick if you do not wish to have your name published in a list of donors
I am interested in finding out more about bequests to the University
Gifts to the Charles Darwin University Foundation are allowable deductions for income tax purposes.
Postage Paid
Please post this form (along with cheque/money order if applicable) to: